A senior civilian member of staff at Cleveland police was suspended today as the cash crisis at the heart of the force deepened.

Police announced that following an initial inquiry into the current financial affairs of the force, an individual had now been sidelined.

It is understood the staff member is in a senior civilian position in the force's finance department. As latest estimates put the budget black hole in the force's finances at #8m HM Inspector of Constabulary has also been called in to join the Audit Commission in a major probe into the finances and running of the force.

Cleveland Police Authority chairman Ken Walker said around 65 civilian staff have been employed by the police without approval of the authority and without cash being allocated in the police budget.

"I am extremely optimistic the inspectorate will respond positively to my request for an independent inspection into the heart of how the Cleveland Police Force is currently governed. this will complement the investigation by the Audit Commission already commissioned by myself into those failings which have contributed to our current predicament," said Cllr Walker.

Today he told the Gazette the investigations would look back two or three years to see what the path of the problem has been.

Cllr Walker said he wanted to see more openness and accountability by the force on decision-making on resources allocated to it.

He also robustly defended his position as chairman of the police authority.

He said: "I have taken every reasonable step to ensure funding for the police and spending has been appropriate."

He said two weeks ago he had been in buoyant mood.

The information he had was the force would be #1m underspent this year and savings of #2m would be made next year allowing the force to have a standstill budget for 2004/05.

On that basis he had agreed to raise an extra #5.1m extra from council tax payers for 100 more police officers and 100 more Police Community Support Officers.

"Two weeks ago I and the authority's chief executive walked into a crisis meeting being held in Stockton by the Chief Constable and his executive team and demanded to know what was happening.

"I do not care if you had Superman in my seat, you can only work on the parameters of the information you are given," said Cllr Walker.

He claimed budget money had been moved around. Civilian staff numbering around 65 had been taken on with police authority approval or included in the budget.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon said today: "This is a very serious situation and the police authority has acted in the interests of the public in involving the Audit Commission and the HMI.

"The force is in a financial crisis of that there is no doubt."

Chief Constable Sean Price welcomed the in-depth inspection and said he was confident it would show the work he and his new team had set in motion would pay dividends for the police service and local communities.

He said he had already met Ken Williams who was fully supporting the Putting People First strategy.

"We knew we faced a number of difficulties and it is fair to say we have been bitterly disappointed at the hidden challenges that have emerged in recent days.

"But there will be no let-up in our determination to overcome these and make Cleveland Police one of the leading forces in the UK," said Mr Price.

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, repeated his call for the Home Office to intervene.

And he said again Ken Walker should resign as chairman of the police authority.

"He is not the message boy of the police authority - he is supposed to be in charge," said Mr Kumar.